The rise of the Nazi Party

Hitler joins the German Workers Party

The German Workers' Party , the forerunner of the Nazi Party, espoused a right-wing ideology, like many similar groups of demobilized soldiers. Adolf Hitler joined this small political party in 1919 and rose to leadership through his emotional and captivating speeches.

Feb 9th, 1920

National Socialist German Workers Party

Hitler changed the name of the German Workers Party to the National Socialist German Workers Party. The Party adopts the swastika as their official symbol.

Apr 1st, 1924

Hitler imprisoned

Adolf Hitler's attempt at an armed overthrow of local authorities in Munich, known as the Beer Hall Putsch , failed miserably. Hitler was improsened for 5 years for high-treason.

May 12th, 1925

Mein kampf

While imprisoned Hitler wrote "Mein Kampf". Hitler's book became the ideological base for the Nazi Party's racist beliefs and murderous practices.

Jun 11th, 1925

The SA and SS

The SA and SS were formed. The SA (Storm Troopers) was the predominant terrorizing arm of the Nazi party. The SS Guard detachments originally was formed in as Hitler's personal guard.

May 18th, 1928

Elections

The Nazi Party achieved just 12 seats (2.6% of the vote) in the Reichstag.

Oct 29th, 1929

Black Tuesday

The collapse of the USA Stock market and the start of the Great Depression. The Great Depression had devastating effects in virtually every country, rich and poor. Personal income, tax revenue, profits and prices dropped, while international trade plunged by more than 50%.

Oct 13th, 1930

Firts anti-Jewish action

The SA began its first major anti-Jewish action on 13 October 1930 when groups of brownshirts smashed the windows of Jewish-owned stores at Potsdamer Platz.[

Jan 30th, 1933

Hitler becomes Reich Chancellor of Germany

After the elections in 1933, Von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Reich Chansellor to keep the Nazi party "under control"

Feb 27th, 1933

Reichstag Fire

The Reichstag building is set on fire. A Dutch Communist, van der Lubbe, is caught red-handed in the burning building.

Mar 23rd, 1933

The Enabling Act

the SA [SA : Also known as Storm Troopers or Brownshirts. A military style organisation of the Nazi party formed in 1921 under Hitler. ] intimidates all the remaining non-Nazi deputies. The Reichstag votes to give Hitler the right to make his own laws.

Jun 30th, 1934

Knight of the long knives

The Night of the Long Knives, in June 1934, saw the wiping out of the SA's leadership and others who had angered Hitler in the recent past in Nazi Germany. After this date, the SS lead by Heinrich Himmler was to become far more powerful in Nazi Germany.

Aug 2nd, 1934

Paul von Hindenburg dies

The President of Germany (1925 - 1934) dies due to lung cancer.

Aug 3rd, 1934

Hitler assumes powers

After the death of Hindenburg Hitler assumes power of both President and Chancellor.

Aug 19th, 1934

Hitler becomes Führer

On August 19, about 95 percent of registered voters in Germany went to the polls and gave Hitler 38 million votes of approval (90 percent of the vote). Thus Adolf Hitler could claim he was Führer of the German nation by direct will of the people. Hitler now wielded absolute power in Germany, beyond that of any previous traditional head of state. He had become, in effect, the law unto himself.